The victory, combined with a 72-69 Northwestern win over Ohio State, pushes the Nittany Lions into sole possession of fourth place in the Big Ten Conference standings.

The combined 71 points makes this the lowest-scoring game in NCAA Division I this year. It is the lowest-scoring game in the 46-year history of Illinois' Assembly Hall. And it is the sixth-lowest scoring game in NCAA D-I since the advent of the shot clock in 1985. The lowest was Monmouth's 41-21 win over Princeton in Dec. 2005.

Here's running play by play of the action ...

32-31 PSU, 3:35 2H
Well, there's your three. Again, it's the freshman Babb showing up.
Maybe now that Pringle hit that tough reverse lay-in he'll find the confidence on a triple he had most of the season. I believe PSU will still need to hit another triple to win this game.

How about FRESHMAN Chris Babb? Has he completely supplanted SENIOR Morrissey at this point? I think that's a no-brainer.

29-24 IL, 6:50 2H
So many aspects of this game are weird. But above all this: You're getting next to nothing from "The Big Three" and Andrew Ott and Chris Babb have held you in it.

Illinois still not showing up emotionally.

Still, no threes for PSU, no win. It's that simple.

26-20 IL, 11:23 2H
Penn State is just so easy to guard. There is very little method on offense. Opponents have learned they can just press the perimeter, help on the guards when they drive and they have very little else to worry about. If Penn State cannot hit threes, they cannot win. Even when the opponent barely shows up on offense.

PSU on a pace to score 29 points.

19-19, 15:37 2H
It's one of those down nights for Illinois. You don't run into these too often if you're a road team playing a contender. This is what Penn State HAD to have if they were going to spring an upset. They have it. So far, they're gagging it up.

Why did Babb pass up that wide-open three on the break and rotate to Cornley? SHOOT, son!

Cornley widening his league lead for front-rim free throws.

17-15 PSU, half
Very hard to imagine how Penn State's going to win this thing unless something completely unexpected -- or someONE completely unexpected -- shows up. Lions should legitimately be up double-digits with Illini shooting as poorly as they are.

Question: Why is Morrissey playing? If his knee is still bothering him, he offers nothing. None other than Trent Meacham is blowing by him on the dribble. He can't get a shot off without dribbling and that's not how he can shoot as Greg Kelser accurately observed.

Illinois is usually a superb passing team but Penn State's defense the last 10 minutes of the half really cut off their angles and made it hard. Drew Jones in particular has played some really good defense.

Would love to see Babb and Woodyard more in the 2H. I'm sure DeChellis was hoping Morrissey could bag a couple of cheap threes but nothing will come cheap in this game. Traffic will be heavy and Woodyard and Babb are big enough to shoot in it.

PSU caught Illinois on an off night and hasn't taken advantage. Bad omen.

17-13 PSU, 2:38 1H
What a strange game. But in a way, not at all. This is what Big Ten basketball distills to from mid-February on when the NCAA tournament is at stake for the combatants. Penn State really has not tasted anything like this in eight years. And last time they did -- in 2001 -- they had a ton more firepower. That team led the Big Ten in both points scored and points allowed.

This one must win with defense and their man has been very good so far. Not as good as Illinois' 13 points would indicate. But they're really making the Illini work forf shots now.

13-6 PSU, 7:23 1H
All the Illini misses are fueling the Penn State break and giving the Lions that rhythm they get from scrambleball. Very good news, so far.

And the contributions from the rookies are extremely encouraging. Woodyard knocking down that 15-footer when open was an eye-opener because he didn't hesitate a second. And he's been playing spare minutes.

5-4 PSU, 11:56 1H

Wonder how Ed DeChellis would have reacted pre-game if he'd been told "Illinois will score two points in the first seven minutes. He'd have said, "Wow, we must have a 12- or 15-point lead then, right?"

PSU extremely fortunate. Illinois open shots not falling. Illini have gotten many more shots to the rack. And we haven't even seen the wreckage this no-name officiating crew could cause with Steve Skiles as crew chief. Bad crews always shade toward the favored team eventually.

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